Cleaning implement for pianos or the like



Nov. 24, 1936. M. M. MILEY CLEANING IMPLEMENT FOR PIANOS OR THE LIKE Original Filed Oct. 19, 1934 Patented Nov. 24, 1936 PATENT OFFICE CLEANING IMPLEMENT FOR PIANOS OR. THE, LIKE Mary M. Miley, Allentown, Pa.

Application October 19, 1934, Serial No. 749,103 Renewed April 24, 1936 6 Claims.

My invention relates to a cleaning implement.

An'important object of my invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character which is adapted to clean portions of a piano, such as a grand or baby grand piano, which are inaccessible for cleaning purposes by the use of the ordinary brush or mop.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning device of the above mentioned character which may be readily passed between the wires of the piano for contact with the sounding board to clean the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character so constructed that a relatively long surface may be presented for cleaning the sounding board of the piano whereby the cleaning operation may be carried out quickly and conveniently.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character which may be employed for cleaning the wires of the piano.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning implement embodying my invention, showing the same in use,

Figure 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the cleaning implement, parts in elevation,

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 33 of Figure 2, and,

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the flexible head of the implement.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates the box or body portion of a grand or baby grand piano having the horizontally disposed sounding board 6 and spaced wires or strings 1 arranged above the sounding board, as is customary.

The implement comprises a brush or mop head 8. This head includes a flexible tube 9. The tube includes oppositely arranged sides, and each side includes inner and outer elongated strips I0 and I]. These strips may be formed of any suitable flexible material, such as chamois, cloth, or the like. Arranged between the strips I 0 and II are strands l2, extending transversely of the elongated strips. These strands are preferably formed of some soft readily foldable material, such as cotton, although other material may be used. The opposite longitudinal edges of the two'pairs of elongated strips l0 and H are securely connected by lines of stitching l3, extending longitudinally of strips I0 and II throughout substantially their entire length. The strands I 2 pass between the strips I0 and II in each pair and are securely attached to these strips by the lines of stitching l3. The fibrous strands l2 extend laterally beyond the tube 9, for substantial distances, and being highly flexible and foldable, they readily become distributed over substantially the entire surface of the tube. The forward end of the tube is preferably closed which may be effected by stitching the pairs of flexible strips [0 and II together and then folding them transversely so that the stitching is arranged upon the inner side of the tube. At the rear end of the tube 9, each pair of strips l0 and II are continued beyond the tube for a substantial distance, affording attaching extensions 14. The strips l0 and II, at the attaching extensions are preferably glued together, although they may be secured together by any other suitable means.

It is thus seen that I have provided an elongated brush or mop head of substantial length, including a tube and strands carried thereby, and the elongated brush head is readily transversely foldable or flexible.

Adapted for insertion within the flexible tube 9 and extending throughout substantially its en tire length, is a bar I5, preferably formed of flat resilient material, such as spring steel. The bar [5 is elongated and has a substantial length and also has a substantial width, but is relatively thin. The bar 15 is therefore readily flexible in a direction at right angles to its surface, but is rigid in a direction parallel with its surface. In other words, when the bar is placed upon a plane horizontal surface, it may be flexed vertically but is rigid against flexing in a horizontal direction.

The rear end of the bar I5 is embedded within a shank I6, formed upon a handle II. The numeral l8 designates a ferrule which is slotted at 19 to slidably receive the bar l5, and this ferrule is adapted to be applied to the shank l6, and is held thereon by frictional engagement. The opposite portions of the shank iii are preferably flattened, at 20, to receive the ends of the attaching extensions 14, which are applied to the outer surface of the ferrule and folded inwardly to project into the same. The ferrule clamps these extensions to the flat faces 20. The ferrule serves to detachably connect the extensions It with the shank l6, and by moving the ferrule l8 forwardly it disengages the shank l6 and releases the attaching extensions l4, whereby the head 8 may be withdrawn from the rod [5, for the purpose of cleaning or repairing the same.

In use, the head 8 is applied to the bar l5 and these two elements are substantially coextensive in length and have a considerable length. The assembled head and bar are readily flexible in one direction and substantially rigid in a direction at a right angle to the flexing direction. With the elements thus assembled, the head 8 may be passed between selected wires or strings I of a grand or baby grand piano, in the manner indicated in Figure 1. This will bring the brush head into engagement with the sounding board 6, as shown. If desired, substantially the entire length of the head 8 may be brought into engagement with the sounding board. When in this position, the bar I5 is flexible in a vertical plane but is substantially rigid in a horizontal plane. The handle ll may now be manipulated to shift the brush head horizontally over the surface of the sounding board. It is thus seen that the portion of the brush head engaging the sounding board has a substantial length and that a large area of the sounding board is thus cleaned. The brush head is reversible and either side thereof may be used. Due to the flexibility of the brush head and bar in one direction, inaccessible portions of the sounding board may be readily cleaned, and the brush head may also be inserted between the wires or strings of the piano in various ways, to clean the strings. The bar is completely encased in the head and cannot contact with the surface to mar the same. The brush may be used to clean various other portions of the piano, and portions of different types of pianos.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An implement for use in cleaning pianos or the like, comprising a normally generally straight elongated flexible cleaning head, an elongated bar carrying the cleaning head, said bar being flexible in one direction throughout substantially its entire length and rigid throughout substantially its entire length in a direction at substantially a right angle to its flexing action, the arrangement being such that the cleaning head may be locally flexed at any point substantially between its ends and passed between the strings of the piano to engage with the sounding board beneath the strings and a handle secured to the bar.

2. An implement for use in cleaning pianos or the like, comprising a flexible elongated cleaning head including a tube and strands carried by the tube, and a, normally generally straight elongated bar inserted within the tube, said elongated bar being relatively thin and having a substantial width so that it is flexible in one direc tion throughout generally its entire length and substantially rigid in a direction at substantially a right angle to its flexing movement, the arrangement being such that the head and bar may be locally flexed at any point generally between the ends thereof so that the cleaning head may be passed between the strings of the piano and engage the sounding board.

3. An implement for use in cleaning pianos or the like, comprising a flexible elongated cleaning head, and a normally generally straight elongated bar extending longitudinally of the cleaning head throughout substantially the entire length of the cleaning head and secured thereto, said bar being resilient and flexible in one direction throughout generally its entire length and substantially rigid in a direction at substantially a right angle to the direction of flexing of the bar, the arrangement being such that the head and bar may be locally flexed at any point generally between the ends thereof so that the cleaning head may be passed between the strings of the piano and a considerable portion of its length brought into engagement with the sounding board, the tension of the flexed resilient bar holding the cleaning head in proper frictional engagement with the sounding board.

4. An implement for use in cleaning pianos or the like, comprising a flexible elongated cleaning head having a substantial length and including a tube and strands carried thereby, an elongated bar inserted within the tube and extending throughout substantially the entire length of the tube, said bar being resilient and flexible throughout generally its entire length in one direction and substantially rigid in a direction at substantially a right angle to the direction of flexing of the bar, and a handle secured to the bar, said elongated bar being a great deal longer than the handle, the cleaning head and bar being locally flexible at any point generally between the ends so that the same may be passed between the strings of the piano and contact with the sounding board, the flexing of the resilient elongated bar serving to hold the cleaning head in proper frictional engagement with the sounding board.

5. An implement for use in cleaning pianos or the like, comprising a flexible elongated cleaning head, and a normally generally straight solid resilient bar which is so slender that it may be readily passed between the strings of the piano in spaced relation from such strings, said solid resilient bar extending longitudinally of the cleaning head throughout substantially the entire length of the cleaning head and secured thereto, the arrangement being such that the cleaning head and solid bar may be locally flexed at any point generally between the ends thereof so that the cleaning head may be passed between the strings of the piano and a considerable portion of its length brought into engagement with the sounding board, the tension of the flexed solid resilient bar holding the cleaning head in proper frictional engagement with the sounding board.

6. An implement for use in cleaning pianos or the like, comprising an elongated flexible cleaning head including a tube, said tube including sides, each side including a pair of strips, fibrous strands arranged between the strips in each pair and extending transversely thereof, lines of stitching attaching the pairs of strips, the strips having extensions at their rear ends projecting beyond the lines of stitching, an elongated bar for insertion within the tube and extending throughout substantially the entire length of the tube, said elongated bar being resilient throughout substantially its entire length in one direction and substantially rigid in a direction at substantially a right angle to its flexing action, a handle having a reduced shank secured to the rear end of the bar, said handle being a great deal shorter than the bar, a ferrule slidable upon the bar and adapted to have the extensions folded inwardly about the same, the ferrule and extensions being adapted for insertion upon the reduced shank to thereby attach the extension to the handle.

MARY M. MILEY. 

